Chapter 27
Mutually Assured Destruction
? NDA - Billie Eilish
Liam
Ruby’s lawyer sent over the petition to terminate Breanna’s parental rights faster than we anticipated.
Now it’s thirty minutes before I’m supposed to meet with her, and Ruby is radiating nervous energy.
She’s sitting crisscross at the end of our bed, fidgeting with a guitar pick while I finish buttoning my shirt.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
I tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll be fine. It’s not like she’s gonna try anything. She’s never been violent.”
She looks away. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”
I grin down at her. “Jealousy looks cute on you, baby.”
She rolls her eyes and swats at my chest. “It’s not that either. I don’t want her to try to use Aiden as some kind of leverage to get more out of the deal. Adam already warned us that she could try to claim that we bribed her to sign away her rights, and we’d be right back at square one.”
I sink next to her and pull her against me, cradling her head against my shoulder. “I know. We’ve been over everything a million times at this point. All we can do now is shoot our shot and hope it lands.”
“If it doesn’t?"
“We’ll figure it out.”
She releases a resigned sigh and kisses my jaw. “Did you talk to Rosie?”
I nod. “Everything is under control. She'll be the witness and notary if Bree agrees to sign.”
“And you’ll call if something happens? Maybe you should take Nico with you.”
“Stop worrying. I’ll be fine. I’m a big boy; I can handle my ex.”
I pull up outside Rosie’s five minutes before six. There’s no sign of Bree anywhere. The sweet scent of fresh pastries assaults me the moment I step inside the brightly lit space, bringing the cool bite of autumn air with me before the warmth envelopes me.
I didn’t want to tell Ruby this, but I’ve had this aching sense of dread in the pit of my stomach for days.
I can tell she’s feeling it too, and I didn’t want to burden her.
It’s been years since I’ve spent any significant amount of time with Bree.
I don’t know what she’s capable of. Based on Adam’s research, she’s been into some shady shit.
Rosie greets me with a warm smile as I walk over to the booth nearest the window.
She hands me a menu. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I pull out my phone and set it on the vinyl cushion beside me, with the recording app ready to go, and place the folder with the paperwork on top. I’m not taking any chances.
The bell chimes above the door at 6:15. It’s just like Bree to be late to her own blackmail scheme. She’s wearing another business-type outfit, like she’s here for a job interview instead of extortion.
“Liam. You look well. Where’s your little girlfriend?”
I grit my teeth, suppressing the urge to unleash all of my pent-up rage—years’ worth of anger I’ve stored up on behalf of my son. Mine. Not hers. She gave up any claim on him the moment she left.
I start recording, careful not to make any obvious movements. “Did you want something to drink before we discuss details, or should we cut the bullshit and get right down to business?”
“I think you’re forgetting who holds all the cards here.
” She snaps her fingers, beckoning Rosie to the table like some kind of servant at her command.
She hasn’t changed a bit. She’s always acted like the world owes her something, and that sense of entitlement is one of the many reasons we didn’t work out.
“What can I get for you?” Rosie’s demeanor is much more subdued than her usually cheery disposition. When I explained the situation, she didn’t hesitate to offer her support. This town has its flaws, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a community more dependable.
“I’ll take an ice water with lemon.”
“Great. Liam? Can I get you anything?”
“I’m fine, Ro. Would you mind packing up a pumpkin pie for Ruby?
” I know Bree isn’t gonna order anything that costs money, and Rosie deserves to get paid just for having this conniving bitch in her establishment.
Bree’s obvious jealousy is just an added bonus.
If she rolled her eyes any harder, they’d get stuck back there.
Rosie smiles and nods. “Be right back.”
“How’s Aiden?” Breanna asks. Her tone is anything but motherly, and I don’t have time to play games.
“Don’t pretend like you actually give a shit. My son is doing well, no thanks to you.”
“I couldn’t provide for us. I didn’t have any help from my parents, as you well know. So, I found a man who was willing to give me everything I needed.”
“Everything you needed? What about Aiden?”
A brief look of pain flickers across her face, but it’s gone so fast I think I made it up. “He didn’t want kids. I had to make a choice. Don’t act like you wouldn't have done the same thing.”
“I’m not like you. I would never sacrifice my son for any amount of money.”
“You sure about that? What if Ruby said she didn’t want kids?”
“That’s the difference between you and me.
I would choose Aiden every fucking time.
But, for the record, Ruby loves Aiden. She would never make me choose.
Everything I do, every choice I make is for him—to make sure he’s happy and cared for.
Including this.” I slap the paperwork on the table with a loud thwack.
“Sign over your rights and you’ll get your money.
Refuse, and we’ll take our chances with the media. ”
Adam warned us to tread lightly, but he didn’t advise me against recording the conversation. It’s mutually assured destruction. If Breanna tries to claim I paid her off, I can prove she blackmailed us first. If I go down, she’s coming down with me.
She opens the folder and scans through the paperwork. “How do I know you’ll hold up your end of the bargain? Two million, remember?”
“I remember. Ruby will transfer the money to your account as soon as you sign the papers and delete the evidence from your phone. Rosie will witness and notarize everything for us.”
“Call her. Right now.”
I stop the recording, hoping like hell I have enough to nail her ass later if necessary. Ruby picks up on the first ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey Goldie. I have Breanna with me. You ready to do this?”
“Did she sign?”
“Not yet. We’re gonna do everything at the same time.”
Rosie returns with Breanna’s water and places it on the table with the to-go box of pumpkin pie. She glances down at the papers, then back at me. “Are y’all ready?”
I look at Breanna expectantly.
She nods curtly. “Fine. Where do I sign?”
I point out all of the places to sign, including every single waiver and affidavit Adam sent over. Rosie pulls out her stamp and notarizes each signature with one of her own. Ruby stays on the line the whole time.
“You’re all set,” Rosie says. “Signed and sealed. Just need to file it with the courthouse.”
“Thanks, Ro. I appreciate you.”
She gives my shoulder a light squeeze and returns to the kitchen.
“Delete the photos and video,” I say. “Now.”
Her jaw clenches but she complies. I watch the evidence disappear right before my eyes. She could have copies, so it does nothing to ease my worries.
“Is it done?” Ruby asks.
“It’s done. Authorize the transfer.”
I read off Bree’s banking information, and Ruby confirms it. Minutes later, Breanna’s phone chimes, confirming the transfer has been authorized and the funds are pending in her account.
“Pleasure doing business with you, Liam.” She stands to leave, but I step into her path.
“I’d better not see your face around here ever again, Bree. After all the harm you’ve caused, everything you’ve done to hurt me and my family, we don’t owe you a goddamn thing anymore. Take your money and live whatever miserable life you have planned for yourself.”
“You sure have a lot to say for a man who’s been fucking his brother’s ex-girlfriend.
Your superiority complex doesn’t make you better than me.
” Her face twists into a bitter sneer. “Do you really think Ruby wants you? Please. You’re just a pretty distraction while she’s here.
As soon as she goes back to Nashville, she’ll forget all about you. You’re just a hot body and decent lay.”
Her words hit their mark, but I don’t let her see the damage.
“Well, at least I have that going for me. What do you have? How many men have you used and tossed aside over the years? You were nothing to me then, and you’re nothing to me now.
It was always Ruby. It will always be Ruby.
I hope the money keeps you warm at night.
Someday, you’ll regret everything, but I won’t be around to see it. ”
Her expression is somewhere between shock and anger, but every ounce of care I had for that woman went out the window the day she abandoned my son.
I gather my things and push past her out the door, hoping like hell I won’t live to regret my angry parting shot. The words replay in my mind all the way back to the house. The sinking in my gut refuses to ease until I set my sights on them: my family.
I pull up to the house and park next to Ruby’s truck in the drive, and it strikes me that it won’t be long before the bright yellow monstrosity isn't here anymore. Someday soon I’ll wake up to an empty bed, and the thought of living even a minute without her fills me with dread.
High-pitched, unrestrained laughter is accompanied by the distinct crunching of leaves, instantly pulling me from my depressing thoughts. I round the corner of the house just in time to see Ruby tossing Aiden into a giant leaf pile.
Stopping at the edge of the property, I watch for a while.
The sight of my woman and son washes away the tension of the day.
This. This is why I let Bree think she won.
She’ll return to whatever pathetic existence she’s been living for the last ten years, and I’ll still have them—at least for a little while.
Ruby spots me and smiles the dimpled smile I love so much. I don’t waste another second, darting away from the house. She squeals and tries to get away from me, but she’s not fast enough. I capture her around the waist from behind and spin us in a circle.
“Help! Aiden!” she screams.
“Not my Ruby!” Aiden cries.
He grips my arm and tries to free her, but his effort is futile.
I release my hold on her with one arm and set her feet on the ground long enough to grab Aiden and hoist him over my shoulder with the other.
I’ve got them both in my grip and at my mercy, and I’m so goddamn fucked because I don’t know how I’ll ever let this go.
“Dad!” Aiden whines. “Put me down!”
I toss him lightly into the pile. He lets out an adorable shriek, throwing a handful of orange and red leaves in the air. I kiss Ruby’s neck and loosen my hold. She practically melts into me, her perfectly soft body molding to mine like she was made for me.
“Tell me we’re going to be ok,” she murmurs.
“We’re going to be ok.” The words ring hollow as Bree’s voice echoes in my mind.
“As soon as she goes back to Nashville, she’ll forget all about you.”
Ruby Lynn Hayes: Darling or Disgrace?
Country artist Ruby Lynn Hayes, the talented singer-songwriter who built her entire career around a wholesome, small-town girl persona, is embroiled in yet another scandal. A video of the star engaging in public sexual activities has been leaked to the press and has gone viral overnight.
The source of the video is unclear, but it is undoubtedly Ruby and her current boyfriend on a sandy beach. Speculation online suggests that they are at Oak Ridge Lake in Ruby’s hometown, but that has yet to be confirmed.
This isn’t the star’s first brush with scandal. Earlier this year, Ruby was sued by her former label for breach of contract. She won the suit, but the label has appealed. Is this the end of her career? Or the beginning of a new rebellious phase for the singer.
We reached out to Ruby’s team for a statement, but they declined to comment.